, a man greatly distinguished in the learned world, was born at
, a man greatly distinguished in
the learned world, was born at Berlin, June 2, 1703, being
the son of a merchant there. He studied first at the French
college at Bering and thence removed to the university of
Francfortoa the Oder. He was examined for the ministry
in 1725, and after some difficulties obtained it; but the
ecclesiastics there being obl'g^d to certain subscriptions,
to which he could not absent, he quitted the country soon
after. He preached about five years in different towns of
the United Provinces, from whence he was invited to London in 1731, and ordained to serve the French chapel in
the Savoy. In 1762 he was named by the bishop of London to be one of the French chaplains to the king in his
chapel at St. James’s. He died Aug. 10, 1775. He seldom published any thing, except occasionally, in consequence of unforeseen engagements, or at the importunity
of friends. Several iittie poetical pieces, essays both in
sacred and profane literature, epitomes of books, memoirs,
dissertations, &c. by De Missy, with his initials C. D. M.
or some assumed name, and frequently anonymous, appeared in different collections and periodical journals in
Holland, France, and England, from 1721, many of which
are enumerated by Mr. Nichols. He was greatly assisting
to many of the learned, in their several undertakings:
among others indebted to him, were the late professor
Wetstein in his splendid edition of the Greek Testament,
Dr. Jortin in his Life of Erasmus, and Mr. Bowyer and
Mr. Nichols in “Two Essays on the Origin of Printing.
”
His name will frequently occur in the works of the learned,
and therefore it was necessary that something should be
upon record concerning him. The writer of this short
extract can add, from his own personal knowledge of him,
that he was not only very acute and very learned, but a
sincere lover and bold assertor of truth, and a man of
many and great virtues. He was twice married, but left no
child. After his death were published “Sermons sur divers Textes de PKcriture Sainte, par feu Monsieur Cesar
de Mis^y,
” '6 vols. 8vo. His valuable library, which was
sold by baker and Leigh in 1778, consisted of many books
enriched with his ms notes, some of which were purchased lor his majesty’s library, some for the British Museum, and some by Dr. Hunter, who also bought several
of his manuscripts.